§ Mr. SMITH-CARINGTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the closing of the flour mills at South Luffenham (County Rutland) and Huntingdon; and how many other power-driven flour mills have been closed during the last 12 months under rationalisation schemes or otherwise?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHI have been asked to reply. I have no information as to the closing of the flour mills at South Luffenham and Huntingdon. According to information given by the National Association of British and Irish Millers, seven flour mills and the flour-milling portion of 12 mixed businesses have been closed down under the rationalisation scheme for the flour-milling industry. The Association add that some of these mills would have been closed down through economic reasons even if the rationalisation scheme had not been in existence. I understand that the scheme has been in operation since the beginning of September, 1929. I am unable to say how many mills have been closed during the last 12 months.